Richard Louis Gamelli

Dr. Richard Louis Gamelli, 73, died peacefully at home after a five-year journey through Alzheimer’s disease on May 3, 2022. Born in Springfield, Massachusetts, he was the oldest son of Alice and Louis Gamelli. He attended St. Michael’s College in Colchester, Vermont where he majored in Chemistry and graduated in 1970. During his final year at St. Michael’s, he met the love of his life, Mary (Kell). Richard continued on to the University of Vermont (UVM) where he obtained his medical degree in 1974. He was accepted into the surgical residency program at UVM where he then became a surgical attending for 11 years as well as the vice chairman of surgery before moving to Chicago in 1990. For the next 24 years Richard was an attending at Loyola University Health Systems where he served in numerous roles including Director of The Burn Shock Trauma Institute, Chairman of Surgery, Dean of the Stritch School of Medicine and finally Senior Vice President and Provost of Health Sciences Loyola University Chicago.

Richard was regarded as a leader and innovator in the field of burn care and was a past president of the American Burn Association (ABA) and The International Society for Burn Injury. He was a member of the American College of Surgeons, the American Surgical, The Royal College of Surgeons (Scotland), Editor-in-chief of the Journal of Burn Care & Research, member of the board of directors for the American Board of Surgery as well as a former Trustee of the University of Vermont. He received several accolades over the years including The Harvey Stuart Allen Distinguished Service Award from the ABA, (2010), the prestigious Stritch Medal (2013, Loyola), the President’s Leadership Award from the American Burn Association (2013), as well as the inaugural Catamount Surgeon award (2017, UVM), and St. Michael’s College Alumnus of the Year (2020).

Richard was extremely committed to his patients, staff, and colleagues as well as his three daughters and wife. Regardless of a weekend day or holiday, Richard visited his patients each day before returning home to enjoy one of his favorite pastimes of working in his yard, improving his home, spending time with his treasured family, or reading a great book. Richard traveled extensively during his career and visited 6 of the 7 continents and spent many years skiing the mountains of New England and the West. Over an illustrious forty-year career, Richard mentored thousands of medical students and residents and this was one of his most enjoyable roles in the world of medical academia. His years of research, patient care, teaching, administrative roles, and leadership culminated in his retirement in 2014 and subsequent move to his mountain view home built in New London, New Hampshire.

Richard’s family includes Mary, his wife of 49 years, his daughters Amy Gamelli (Steven Schweitzer), Andrea Couture (Denis), Liza Gamelli (Fiancé Erich), and three grandchildren- Jacob, Hannah, and Henry Couture. His presence will be missed by so many friends and family. He truly was a leader and a “maverick” in his life and career. He inspired so many to work harder, strive for better, and give the best of themselves. He believed in people before they believed in themselves and his legacy will live on in all those that were touched by his life and career. The family would like to recognize and thank Richard’s exemplary caregivers that treated him with compassion and love and because of their care, he was able to remain in his home for the course of his disease. 

A celebration of life will be planned for later this year in New Hampshire. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance in support of the children’s burn summer camp “I AM ME” in memory of Dr. Richard L. Gamelli. 426 West NW Highway Mount Prospect, IL 60056 in c/o Jenny Tzortzos.